FRANCE: Fateful Elections

The Western democracies waited anxiously for
France to go to the polls next Sunday. France is the keystone of
Western European defense; no NATO plans make any sense before it is
clear what kind of government France will have after the elections (see
INTERNATIONAL). The people who seemed least concerned with the crucial
electoral battle were the French voters themselves. Throughout the
country, mayors issued proclamations urging Frenchmen to vote. Said
one: "You think that nothing will change . . . But you must vote . . ."